This weekend I had the opportunity to watch our boys’ cross country team at the state meet in Wisconsin Rapids. It was great to see the pageantry of the many colored tents of school districts and hundreds of young men and women from all over the state as they excitedly and nervously readied themselves for the race they had been hoping and preparing for all season. Our young men are to be congratulated on placing 6th in the competition. They are Charles Corbett, Dustin Bay, Jordan Koski, Cade Strehlow, Cameron Pearson, Sam Belanger and Isaac Weik. Also to be congratulated are our coaches, Mary Patterson and Sammi Bay who have taught our young people some much greater lessons than how to run a race.

Charles Corbett was the first Chequamegon runner to finish. He came in 7th and although I am sure he would like to have done better than that, I was told he had improved in that run on his former personal best at a state meet. This is the fourth state meet at which he has competed. Finding something deep inside of you and doing more than you thought was possible is one of the strongest arguments for why high school athletics and other extracurricular activities are so important in the development of these young people. Their success this season will be something they will remember for the rest of their lives as will their parents and family members judging from the look of pride on their faces.

Another group of students to be congratulated are the three students who auditioned and qualified to perform with the Wisconsin School Music Association Honors Project from Thursday through Saturday in Madison. Kalene Weber performed with the Honors Choir, Rachel Pollock performed with the Honors Band on her clarinet and Michelle Lobermeier performed on her alto saxophone in the Middle Level Honors Band . Each of these students auditioned and were selected from many other students around the state for this honor. Like earning the honor of performing at a state meet, earning the honor of performing with a top level music group such as these is an honor the students and their families will remember for years to come.

Projects such as these and many others Chequamegon students participate in on a regular basis teach students about the importance of working together for a common goal and always working hard to realize your personal best. These students have experienced that sense of accomplishment and pride and they will be better citizens in the future for having that experience.

Congratulations to the students, their teachers/coaches and their families!